There are a plethora of expensive 26" XC wheels out there to choose from. I'd like to get some advice from those that have forked over some cash for new wheels to upgrade from stock to see what their thoughts are.

Review what you have here so we can get a good list going for those that want to upgrade.

My 2006 Trek Fuel Ex8 came with great Bontrager tubeless compatible wheels. I'm looking to turn those into road-ish/slicks and get a new lighter, stronger set for trails.

I'd like to see why my options are for improving on these from budget greatness to over-the-top wheelsets.

I have owned serveral high end wheelsets over the years - my favorite is a good set of hubs hand built to a good set of hoops. Like - king hubs, DT revolution spokes, brass nipples, Mavic rims - beats a pre built set any day (as long as you have a good wheel builder). Also - I always get extra spokes and nipples when they are built - just in case.

I have owned serveral high end wheelsets over the years - my favorite is a good set of hubs hand built to a good set of hoops. Like - king hubs, DT revolution spokes, brass nipples, Mavic rims - beats a pre built set any day (as long as you have a good wheel builder). Also - I always get extra spokes and nipples when they are built - just in case.

I9's have been mentioned several times already and decided to be different.

Sorry, I should have clarified. I concur with your suggestion of the Mavic/Hope combo. A couple of other people had mentioned the I9 Enduro. However, the I9 All Mountain is ~200g lighter than the Enduro, and is pretty well-suited to XC/AM riding. It was sort of a general question to the group at large.

Total cost was ~$525 including a new set of XTR-965 brakes. These wheels are LIGHT (~1500-ish grams), and are plenty durable for me. Best money I spent on the bike. If you are careful scrounger you can build some for cheap too.

They dropped 2 lbs from the bike in the just the wheels! You can feel this! However, just make sure to lace disc wheels 3x ALWAYS. Nasty things happen otherwise.

I'm kinda old school about this. I prefer wheels with conventional spokes/hubs. No bladed, no straight pull, no black spokes, etc.. This all just makes it simpler/easier to replace a spoke or re-lace a hub. Of course this is all predicated by the fact that I build/work on my own wheels.

One exception is that I have a set of XTR Centerlock/Mavic 717/DT 15ga. wheels. Not particularly light- I think about 1800 grams. But for $300 I just went ahead and bought them at the time. Strong wheels for sure. I tensioned/trued them up a bit out of the box.

__________________"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." - Kurt Vonnegut jr.

I'm kinda old school about this. I prefer wheels with conventional spokes/hubs. No bladed, no straight pull, no black spokes, etc.. This all just makes it simpler/easier to replace a spoke or re-lace a hub. Of course this is all predicated by the fact that I build/work on my own wheels.

You're not old school, just unenlightened. I9 spokes can be replaced without removing rotors, cassettes, or even removing the wheel from the bike.

That's understandable - imposition of personal budget constraints (even when the OP specifically inquired about "over the top wheelsets") is the bikeforums way. But you could just say that rather than try and manufacture reasons, particularly when you have no direct experience with the product you're denigrating.

That's understandable - imposition of personal budget constraints (even when the OP specifically inquired about "over the top wheelsets") is the bikeforums way. But you could just say that rather than try and manufacture reasons, particularly when you have no direct experience with the product you're denigrating.

I denigrated nothing, I gave my own opinion and experience.

The OP, as I read it, asked for opinions on wheel upgrades, not specifically "over the top wheelsets":

"I'd like to see why my options are for improving on these from budget greatness to over-the-top wheelsets."

.

__________________"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." - Kurt Vonnegut jr.

i personally just don't see what is so great about the I9 wheels. Of course, I haven't ridden them. But, they are 1400 grams and $900. Just not the best deal if you can handle building your own lightweight wheels (which most amateur wheel builders can't).

i am also distrustful of Al spokes screwed into an Al hub. how wouldn't these things seize once exposed to nasty elements?

and, about convenience, how long does it take to remove a cassette and a centerlock rotor? 5 minutes, maybe.

for whatever its worth, they look cool though. i'll let other people pay for them until they get cheap enough for me to tinker with.

for whatever its worth, they look cool though. i'll let other people pay for them until they get cheap enough for me to tinker with.

Erm, most likely, I9 wont be dropping their prices cause they a group of loyal devotees and every rider that I know who owns I9, loves it. Not much negative comment so that's why their price will stay the same.